Wichita eagle., 1887-09-23
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1B@1ln . Eagle
RATHER A PECULIAR GRAND.
A'Meiancholy Young Man VINO Wanted to
Sell Some Diamonds-Scared Out


Sell Some Diamonds-Scared Out
A handsome private cab stopped In
'front.' Of an old established iewelry store
On Fulton street one day not long ago. A
tad man with very pale face and mourn
full black eyes alighted and walked into
the store. All the clerks were at once
upon the alert to serve him. He was
elegantly but quietly dressed, and carried
himself easily and gracefully. lie had a
handsome face, with clear cut features,
aud rather long black mustache, but his
eyes were particularly attractive from
their peculiarly sad expression.
81 would like TO see the proprietor" he
sid In quiet, manly voice.
A good looking young man, with a jovial
twinkle in his brown eyes, stepped for
ward. "What is it 1 can do for your he
inquired.
"Nine is rather peculiar Grand" said
the stranger. ga short time ago i bought
very elegant pair of diamonds, intend
ing to give them to my wife TO have mads
into pair of earrings" Here his voice
became very soft, and he with difficulty
concealed his emotion. 'Since then, y he
asntnued in firmer tones, 'imy wife h9ss
died. Her illness dated from the time sac
received the diamonds, and l am sUffi-
eiently Superstitious to connect the dla-
monds with that sad event. / am therefore
DESTROYS of getting rid of them as speedily
as possible, and | am willing 10 make q
RcCifice in doing So"
As he spoke the jeweler watched him
closely. The stranger drew small pack
age from his pocket and handed it TO the
3eweler. The latter quickly opened it, and
two large and brilliant stones rolled out
ep The show case. The jeweler examined
them closely. "Weu, don't know about
buying them" he said fHow much do
You want for them?'
DWELL" said the man, obviously, az
paid 1900 for them. I am willing, in
order to get rid of them right away, to
seH them for $1,000"
The jeweler smiled slightly. "Where
did You buy them?" ne inquired at length.
DAT Tiffauy's,n was the reply.
The jeWeier continued to toy with the
diamonds, and signs of nervousness began
to show themselves il the face OF their
owner
''You are quite sure that you paid
$4,000 for them:' said the jeweler, sud
denly, looking the man full in the face.
The latter started and turned q shade
peler.
''Oertainly; that is, I believe did, he
samEered. TT is some time ago, and
have been 50 upset by my affection since
then that may have forgotten the exact
price"
"You live in town, presume?" contin-
ned the jeweler, still keeping his gaze
firmly fixed on his customers face
''Yes-that is, no; don't just at pres ]
emit I did live at the Windsor. am
living with some friends in the country
just now"
s'Quite sure about that, aren't you?n
said the jeweler in a quiZZing tone.
BY this time the stranger had become
very weak y, his legs and more or less
shaly all over. His hands trembled yio-
lently despite all efforts to control them
and his face was white and drawn.
Gathering himself together he said, in a
tone of pretended Indignation, ''What do
you mean, sir, by that question? lwould
not sell the diamonds to you now at any
price. l did not expect to be insulted
when I came here. l viii trouble you to
return my diamonds" and he put out his
hand to take them.
ooh, no. returned the jeweler, quietly
smiling. 'You are right in saying that
you Will not sell them to me, but you viii
not take them away either. Those dia-
monds are stolen"
''It's lie" cried the man, his features
contracted. "Give them to me-
The jeweler did not move, but continued
to smile pleasantly. ''If you wish I will
call in policeman" he said.
The fellow shrank back, and without
another word ran out Of the store. Quickly
whispering to the coachman he jumped
into the cab and was rapidly driven away.
"You had considerable nerve TO I'M
mask that fellow the reporter observed.
"Why, took him for some bank presi-
dent or retired Cr9sus from his appear
ance and style of his turnout"
The jeweler laughed. at is not the
first time that such a thing has happened"
he said "a jeweler in this city has to be
continually on the qui vive to avoid being
taken in by swindlerS. L had the same
opinion OF this man that you did until he
began TO tell me about these stones. AS
soon as he said that he had bought them
at Tifrany's for $4,000 know they were
stolen"
''Why?' asked the reporter.
"Because Tiffany could not buy them
for that sum. Those jewels are worth at
beast So, 500 at first cost. That is the way
we catch most thieves. We ply them with
questions about the jewels they want TO
sell until they give themselves away"
"What do you do with the jewelry?"
ave try TO find the rightful owner. -
New Yorl, sun.